Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/841282
While many of us may think that having a client disclose their HIV status on a health intake form will better inform our work, it begs this question: By asking clients to mark their status on an intake form, are they opened up to potential discriminative? Some professionals have the best of intentions and would think nothing of seeing an HIV-status disclosure on a form. However, there are many in the profession who might see it differently. EDUCATE YOURSELF First, bodyworkers should be educated about the difference between HIV and AIDS, because they are two different entities. One concern in the medical community regarding HIV and AIDS includes keeping tabs on the CD4 count— the higher the number, the better. CD4 is the name of the helper cells in our body that assist in combating disease and keep us at our premium level of health. The other concern is the viral load in the body—the lower the viral load, the better. Viral load is, just as you probably have guessed it, the amount of virus that appears in the blood work of the person with HIV or AIDS. Each of these numbers has a target range that a physician tries to help the client reach, mostly through medication. STANDARD PRECAUTIONS You might be asking yourself what you would do if a client with AIDS has an open wound. The answer is simple: proceed as you were taught to do. Would the thought that someone on your table has HIV change the way you would handle exposure to open wounds, blood, or any other bodily fluids? Your answer should be no! 62 m a s s a g e & b o d y w o r k j u l y / a u g u s t 2 0 1 7 Would the thought that someone on your table has HIV change the way you would handle exposure to open wounds, blood, or any other bodily fluids? Your answer should be no! TURNED AWAY In a recent Facebook public forum, a user relayed a friend's story. The friend had filled out their required intake form. When they repeated their HIV-positive status, they were denied massage. The client was told to get a doctor's note to receive any sort of treatment in the future. The Facebook post wrapped up with a basic question: Is there any real reason the HIV/ AIDS question should be on the intake form? What came next was a slew of follow-up posts from people claiming to be practicing licensed massage therapists and bodyworkers. Several of the responsive posts seemed to be based on misinformation and fueled by stigma. Some of the more questionable statements included: "Wear gloves," "It should be on the intake form, along with treatment," "Massage should not have been refused unless there was an open wound on the client," "Denial could be OK if the therapist has kids who recently have been sick and the client's immunity is compromised," "Knowing keeps it safe for everyone," "If an MT is not trained or educated about HIV/AIDS, it is responsible to turn a client away … just like it is for oncology-related massage," "Our first order of business is 'do no harm.'" There were also well-intended comments: "HIV/AIDS is a major illness with its own MT considerations; nothing more, nothing less," "It's unethical and discriminatory to deny, as well as just a low, crappy thing to do." Others posted in defense of the client who was on the unjust receiving end.